Front hitch mount for dirt bike.

I’m building a setup to live in the bed, with a topper, and want to be able to bring my drz. I’ve used a hitch carrier on the back, but that would make it difficult to get in and out. What do you guys think about mounting a hitch on the front? What it put to much stress on the front end? The bike weighs 350lbs, and the ARB bumper weighs 375lbs. I was also considering weather I should try and find a product that bolts on, or have a welder weld it onto the bumper or somewhere else? What suspension modifications would I need? Thanks for any advice. Also one of the pics is me getting stuck last week lol.

 

A front hitch mount is really easy to install and from what I have seen should work with the ARB. As for the weight, you probably should weigh the truck and see how much weigh you already have on the front end.

Curt Hitch on Amazon

$187 CURT 31198 2" Front Receiver Hitch, Select Toyota Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Tundra

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001GMX4KY

 

Thanks for the link, I already know that the bumper weighs 375lbs, I’m just not sure if another 350lbs would hurt suspension and other stuff, and what kind of upgrades I would need.

 

Nothing here is apples to apples, but…
I have a front hitch that I used to carry a husky 701 on my first gen. I didn’t have any other added weight up front. I thought it worked great. This was with fairly firm bilstein 6112’s up front.
Only issue for me was that my headlights were largely blocked which bounced a lot of light off the bike into my eyes and let little through. So it really was only a daytime set up.

 

Only way to know if you would hurt anything is to check the weight on the front axle and compare it to the GAWR on the door jamb. Realistically the weight shouldn't be an issue. The front ends on these trucks are pretty stout. You might wear your front wheel bearings and tires a little faster.

As for supporting mods, you will likely need upgraded front springs to prevent the front end from sagging and hitting the bumpstops constantly. Of course this would make the front ride rather poorly when the DRZ is not there. A small trailer might be a better option if you can swing that.

 

Ita not just the extra weight of your bike that you have to think about. It's the extra leverage its going to have it mounted out in front of the bumper.

 

We installed a front hitch to move around a boat trailer easier in a tight spot that had less than 6" clearance, but as far as driving around with an extra 350+ lbs, I wouldn't do it. It's going to accelerate the wear on your front end suspension. Also, check your state laws (and ones you are traveling through) as it might not be legal to throw a bike in the front for a variety of reasons, such as obscuring the plates, lights, vision, etc.

 

How much does a plow weigh 350???

 

I wouldn't do it without upgrading the suspension. The extra weight of the bike and carrier will be out much further with the added width of the ARB, making its impact even greater as another poster stated.

In addition to blocking the lights, the bike will also block air flow to the radiator.

 

You can upgrade your front springs to a heavy duty load.

 

I have one on my 2000 and used a Versahauler for the bike years ago. I would carry an ATV in the bed and pull a 24 foot Mallard trailer.